Dismissed members of the armed forces on Sunday blocked the path of the vehicle of army representatives at the National Press Club premises, obstructing its movement, after rejecting their verbal assurance of meeting the demonstrators' demands.
Family members of many of the sacked personnel were also present at the demonstration.
Earlier in the day, the protesters began a sit-in with four demands in front of the National Press Club in the morning.
At around 2pm, a delegation from the Army Headquarters, led by Brigadier General Aminur Rahman, arrived to speak with the demonstrators.
Although the army representatives offered verbal assurance, the protesters rejected it and blocked the path of the delegation.
At about 5pm, the sacked armed forces personnel started lying in front of the delegates’ vehicle inside the National Press Club premises, obstructing its movement.
The protesters lay down in front of the army vehicle along with their children to block the road.
Previously, around noon, under the banner of “Bangladesh Shohojoddha Platform – BCP,” sacked armed forces members gathered in front of the National Press Club with four demands.
From there, they prepared for a march towards Jahangir Gate.
However, police intervened and stopped the march.
A water cannon was also spotted on the scene, but police did not use force.
At 4pm, following their meeting, the Army Headquarters delegation informed the protesters that their demands would be reviewed with logical consideration.
They were advised to submit applications for reinstatement to the Army Headquarters.
The delegation also invited representatives of the protesters to the headquarters on Monday for further discussion.
Brigadier General Aminur Rahman said that those dismissed for minor offences will be reinstated in phases, while the cases of those dismissed for serious offences will be reviewed. If possible, they will also be reinstated, he added.
He mentioned that steps will be taken regarding the release of the soldier arrested the previous day by speaking with the relevant authorities.
However, the verbal assurance failed to persuade the demonstrators to suspend their protest.
Instead, they lay down in front of the delegates’ vehicle and chanted slogans.
Even the coordinators leading the protest were unable to move them.
At the time of filing this report, the delegation was still attempting various means to disperse the demonstrators.
However, the protesters remained unmoved.
More than 100 army and police personnel were present on the National Press Club premises.
Dismissed soldier Md Naimul arrested on charges of sabotage, inciting unrestTheir four demands:
Full reinstatement of service, including all salaries, allowances, and benefits from the date of dismissal to the present;
If reinstatement is not possible, then full pension and all government benefits must be provided;
Reform of the legal structure and "one-sided" judicial process under which hundreds of armed forces members were dismissed, including an amendment to Article 45 of the Constitution;
The immediate release of their chief coordinator, dismissed soldier Naimul Islam, who was arrested the day before.
